Windsor–Detroit border on holidays and long weekends
Holidays on either side of the river change who’s crossing and when. Here’s every holiday and long weekend coming up, with what to expect.
Wait times right now
Official figures as of 2:06 AM ET. They refresh every few minutes on the live page, which also has driver reports.
Upcoming holidays
| Date | Holiday | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 26 | U.S. Thanksgiving (U.S.) | U.S. long weekend; Black Friday shoppers follow. |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Black Friday (Both) | Heavy Detroit-bound shopping traffic Thursday to Saturday. Black Friday guide |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas Day (Both) | Holiday on both sides; family visits in both directions. |
| Sat, Dec 26 | Boxing Day (Canada) | Canadian holiday and shopping day. |
| Fri, Jan 1 | New Year’s Day (Both) | Long weekend; busy Sunday heading home. |
| Mon, Jan 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day (U.S.) | U.S. long weekend. |
| Mon, Feb 15 | Family Day (Ontario) and Presidents’ Day (U.S.) (Both) | Long weekend on both sides at once. |
| Fri, Mar 26 | Good Friday (Canada) | Start of the Easter long weekend. |
| Mon, Mar 29 | Easter Monday (Canada) | Canadian long weekend ends. |
| Mon, May 24 | Victoria Day (Canada) | Canadian long weekend; Monday return is busy. |
| Mon, May 31 | Memorial Day (U.S.) | U.S. long weekend. |
| Thu, Jul 1 | Canada Day (Canada) | Canadian holiday. |
| Mon, Jul 5 | Independence Day (observed) (U.S.) | July 4 falls on a Sunday; Monday is the day off. |
| Mon, Aug 2 | Civic Holiday (Canada) | Ontario long weekend. |
| Mon, Sep 6 | Labour Day / Labor Day (Both) | Long weekend on both sides; Monday afternoon heading home is usually busiest. |
| Mon, Oct 11 | Canadian Thanksgiving and Columbus Day (Both) | Busiest heading into Canada on the Monday. Thanksgiving tips |
Plan around the busy times with the 7-day forecast and the best times to cross.
For every statutory holiday by province, plus what’s open and closed, see our sister site HolidayCalendar.ca.
Common questions
When is the border busiest on a long weekend?
Usually the last day, heading home: Monday afternoon and evening on a Canadian long weekend, when the CBSA says traffic into Canada peaks. Early mornings are usually quickest.
Is the Windsor-Detroit border open on Christmas Day?
Yes. The Ambassador Bridge, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the Gordie Howe Bridge stay open on holidays, and customs on both sides is staffed.
Which holidays are long weekends on both sides?
In 2027: Presidents’ Day and Ontario’s Family Day (Feb 15), Labour Day (Sep 6) and Thanksgiving/Columbus Day (Oct 11) fall on the same Monday.